Game #26: PHI @ TOR, Wednesday December 5th 2018, 8 PM ET

Wed Dec 5th, 2018, 10:25 AM

TV: ESPN in the states, SN1 in Canada.

Starters:

TOR:
Lowry
Green
Leonard
Siakam
Ibaka

PHI:
Simmons
Redick
Butler
Chandler
Embiid

(Hopefully) Interesting stats:

- Raptors rank 3rd in ORTG (114), 8th in DRTG (106.3), and 2nd in Net RTG (+7.7). We are 20-5. That's the most wins in the league (and best win %).
- 76ers rank 11th in ORTG (108.8), 11th in DRTG (106.8), and 10th in Net RTG (+2.0). They are 17-8. That's the 2nd most wins in the league (tied for 5th in win %).
- Since the Butler deal, the 76ers ranks are at 6th, 12th and 9th. Not a huge amount of movement there. But are 8-2 in that time.

Comment

I'm buying the 76er hype a bit more since the trade. Embiid, Simmons and Butler and a formidable force and have more than one potential game breaker. I don't want to close this game only up or down a couple with a few minutes left.

Kawhi has to continue to be great, Lowry has to be more consistent, Danny do what he does, Siakam spin it up and Serge/JV add up to better than average C numbers. But I'm looking for one of the role players to step up and have a big unexpected game. Fred, Wright, OG? Come on down.

Comment

Ben Simmons had 11 turnovers last game vs the raps and Kawhi made his life hell for 48 minutes. Does Kawhi stay on Ben or does he start guarding Butler now? Gotta say I liked the Kawhi on Ben look.
Lowry on JJ and Green on Butler?
Go Raps!

Comment

After Embiid, Redick is the guy I'm most worried about. He's going to get a lot of open looks with Simmons/Butler/Embiid all tough covers. Would like to see Green check Redick and then have Lowry on Butler to be honest.

We can't have a let down game from our bench.. the better bench wins this game in my opinion.

Comment

After Embiid, Redick is the guy I'm most worried about. He's going to get a lot of open looks with Simmons/Butler/Embiid all tough covers. Would like to see Green check Redick and then have Lowry on Butler to be honest.

We can't have a let down game from our bench.. the better bench wins this game in my opinion.

Would be a nice game for CJ to bust out throwing flames. Or for FVV to just not be cringeworthy.

Very candid:
"So much hype comes from being around LeBron from other people," Durant said. "He has so many fanboys in the media. Even the beat writers just fawn over him. I'm like, we're playing basketball here, and it's not even about basketball at certain points. So I get why anyone wouldn't want to be in that environment because it's toxic.

"Especially when the attention is bull [expletive] attention, fluff. It's not LeBron's fault at all; it's just the fact you have so many groupies in the media that love to hang on every word. Just get out of the way and let us play basketball."

Another key to tonight's game is not seeing the refs put Serge/JV/pskills or Danny in foul trouble early ....